I read with some disappointment the most recent posting on colloidal
silver.  Although I have used it only once, I don't know if it helped or
not; however, I am certainly open to the idea that it--and many other
holistic remedies--may help various conditions.
 
I think many of us who are interested in holistic, alternative,
non-traditional etc.  medicine came in through the back door-- ie,
either we or a family member had some serious illness which was totally
unresponsive to 'normal' methods and was subsequently cured by some
treatment totally ridiculed by the medical establishment.  I believe
that both holistic and western medicine have some good things to offer,
and that they can both learn from each other.
 
For example, my vet freely admits that he does not know what to do with my
dog's serious case of dysplasia/arthritis, other than suggesting ascriptin
(which he does take).  Rather than being threatened by other methods, this
vet is very interested in hearing about my dog's acupuncture treatments.
(Yes, there are vets who use acupuncture and many other holistic remedies
as well.) One of the best vets I have gone to uses a wide range of
treatments, mostly holistic (acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs, nutrition) as
well as western medicine.
 
Although this may not seem directly related to ferrets, I think the
principles of medicine are the same whether they're applied to humans or
dogs or ferrets etc.  I hope that people become more open-minded to
different kinds of treatments that may have very great healing potential.
 
--Ronnie DiComo
[Posted in FML issue 1370]